India knock out Australia in Jr Davis Cup

New Delhi, May 2 (IANS)India whitewashed top seeds Australia 3-0 and will face Japan in the finals of the Asia-Oceania junior Davis Cup tennis tournament at the DLTA complex here Friday. Japan defeated Chinese-Taipei 3-0 to make Saturday’s final.

In what was seen as a tough draw, Saurabh overwhelmed Jarryd Chaplin 6-3,6-3, playing solid tennis and then Yuki Bhambri was no less authoritative against Australia No.1 Maverick Banes, winning 6-4, 6-1. Once the tie is decided, the Aussies conceded the doubles on medical grounds.

Saurabh broke Chaplin in the fourth game and thereafter the Australian made all sorts of mistakes to lose the set.

In the second set, the Australian did manage to give Suarabh some mid match jitters by playing a couple of close games, but eventually he had no answer to the Indian’s aggressive play.

World no 5 Bhambri was given a fright by Banes in the first set by effecting a break in the first game. Bhambri recovered to break back immediately and then he had the decisive break in the tenth game to take the first set.

Yuki riding high on confidence, being a set up, gave little away in the second. Still, the Australian with a powerful forehand did well to run close till he was broken in the sixth game. Yuki then won the set comfortably breaking the Australian again in the eighth game.

Howver, the result of the final will be of little consequence as the top four teams from the zone — Australia, India, Japan and Chinese Taipei– have already made it to the World Group finals to be staged in Mexico in September